So sweet.

The lilacs in my yard have been blooming.
And the smell is so sweet.
Fresh. Pure. Lovely.


Sometimes my life is so sweet, I feel it in my core.
Right now is that time.
I know life has ups and downs but right now I feel so blessed it brings tears.


I feel overwhelmed by love and sweetness.
Surrounded by people who are way too good to me.
Consumed by a God who shouldn't love me at all, but does unconditionally.


My life is just so sweet.

I pray yours is too.

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join:

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints. Be sure to link back here so others can find the entire list of participants.
2. After you've posted your blog, sign the Linky below. Have fun exploring the other links as well! Please sign in only if you're participating. Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week.
-------------------

What a wacky week of ups and downs... Easter and celebrating Christ rising from the tomb, tragedy and death and sadness in the South, hoopla over the Royal wedding...
It's been a strange roller coaster of emotions.
All I know is I'm so thankful for the cross.
So thankful to know that God is in control.
So thankful that He loves and treasures every single one of us.
And He knows exactly what He's doing.

Little things...

It's The Man making iced coffee for me on Sunday mornings.
It's a sweet email from a stranger telling me they're proud of me.
It's a rural farmhouse that is a blank canvas for my creativity.
It's random flowers popping up in my yard.
It's a good conversation with a growing 10 year old girl.
It's freshly polished toes.
It's a new magazine and an open afternoon.
It's Sonic happy hour.
It's playing frisbee in the yard with the kids.
It's the color yellow.
It's the planting of a garden.
It's the excitement of what the future holds.
It's a happy fruit snack.
It's the little things that just keep making me smile.

The weekend...

Was busy busy busy. But fun fun fun.

Our church had 3 services yesterday morning, although we normally have two.
We went to the middle one. And The Man and I were both grateful there wasn't a sunrise service, because there's no way we could get our brood up and dressed by then.

The Baby had a fabulous smile.
He took his backpack to collect eggs.
The church ladies served a nice light brunch. Church ladies know how to cook.
This little boy forgot to bring a basket so he used his hoodie! Smart kid.


After church, we headed back to Badger Creek to host a family gathering.
We are super fancy people so we grilled hamburgers and hot dogs.
The Baby took a carrot outside and called "Heeeeere bunny bunny.... Heeeeere bunny bunny..." but was disappointed when the Easter bunny never showed up.
The Boy decorated our porch.


And we had another egg hunt.


There were frisbee and wiffle ball games.
Are you required to use only one arm to swing when playing wiffle ball? I don't know. All the men did.
One man pulled a boobie muscle. He insisted that it was his pectoral, but we ladies knew it was his boobie. He'll have fun explaining that at work this week, "I'm sorry guys I can't work today. I pulled my boobie muscle while playing wiffle ball."



I sat right by first base and every time this beautiful child would come to first, he'd run over and give me a hug.
He's only 9 and girls already swarm around him. Yikes.


The Baby gave rides. He rigged this up himself with a bungee cord.


We made peep s'mores.
The girl had an unharmed peep looking at her s'more saying, "Mommy?!" Then she turned it to me and said, "What have you done to my mommy???"
My kids are weird.


I did manage to get a shot of my kids in their Easter outfits.
I'm weird about their Easter clothes. It's the one time of year I want them to coordinate.
But they can't have traditional Easter clothing like sweater vests and fancy dresses because I want them to be able to wear the items again without people looking at them and thinking that they're wearing their Easter clothes.
And if I can buy the pieces at Target, on clearance, it's even better.
Whew.


******
How was your Easter weekend? Fun? Solemn? Joyful? Warm? (ours was chilly.)

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join:

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints. Be sure to link back here so others can find the entire list of participants.
2. After you've posted your blog, sign the Linky below. Have fun exploring the other links as well! Please sign in only if you're participating. Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week.
-------------------


This week, more than ever, The Baby has learned the joy of worms.
Attach one to a hook, that is attached to a string, that is attached to a stick, and drop the hook in the creek... next thing you know you have a 3 pound bass pulling the line!!

Sweet Mama! { Giveaway! }

Did you realize that Mother's Day is just around the corner?
Yikes.

We're giving away 2 $25 gift certificates to The Rusted Chain.
Because you're all so kind. And lovely. And funny. And cute. And you smell good too.



To enter:
Leave a comment telling what your ideal Mother's Day gift would be, if you could choose.

For additional entries:
Facebook it, blog it, follow this blog, join our Facebook Fan page, tweet it{"Sweet Mama, another jewelry giveaway @TheRustedChain! http://tinyurl.com/3bkoqg6"}.
(leave additional comments for each of these that you do.)

We'll pull random winners in a week. (or so.... I'm always so accurate with those dates.)

Also: Use MAMA20 for 20% off your purchase!! Expires 4/24.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I refrained for the last two years and this year I'm just not fighting it any more.
It really is the most wonderful time of the year.
Amen.

Color.

Everything is greening up, flowers are sprouting, and it's so great to see color again lately.

Every year our small town bank runs a big sale at the local nursery with a discount off plants. And the bank employees work the sale.
You see local teachers, preachers, school board members, fellow church members, city council, PTA moms, and people you haven't seen since the last sale.
It's a fun way to see lots of people you know and becomes an event all in itself.

The other day was the day, so we headed to the garden center.








Our yard has lots of huge shade trees, so we have to pick flowers and plants that will grow with little sun.


We do, however, have a big nice garden area.
Can't wait to get my hands on big juicy maters!




So.... this is how we're spending our weekend. In the dirt.
Planting. Hopefully avoiding any snakes.
And crossing our fingers that there will be no more frost or high winds.

*****
What are you doing this weekend?

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join:

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints. Be sure to link back here so others can find the entire list of participants.
2. After you've posted your blog, sign the Linky below. Have fun exploring the other links as well! Please sign in only if you're participating. Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week.
-------------------


"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38

Kenny.

Yesterday The Man called me from work and said, "Hey, you didn't buy tickets to the Kenny Chesney concert did you?"
Me: "No, was I supposed to?"
The Man: "Well I've been hinting at it for weeks... I just hoped you would."

Oy.

So, being the amazingly good wife that I am, I got online and scrambled around and managed to get last minute tickets to a sold out concert.

*Uncle Kracker, Billy Currington, and Kenny Chesney*

Professional cameras were not allowed (boooo!) so I swiped The Girl's point and shoot.

Uncle Kracker opened. I really dig his music and have for years.




Billy Currington... I didn't really know who he was.
His first couple songs bored me and I was rolling my eyes, crossing my arms.
Then... Then, he got good!! REALLY good! He totally won me over!
I did end up recognizing a bunch of his songs. He's an amazing performer with this sweet boyish charm... I think I have a new crush.
He was super high energy and all over the stage and our poor little camera couldn't keep up with him very well.


Then it was Kenny's turn. He was about what I expected.
Really good, very talented, very genuine, lots of energy.



My favorite was when the two opening acts came back out and performed with Kenny.



And the Wife of the Year Award goes to........


(I also get the Shiniest Face of the Year Award.)

*****
Have you seen any concerts that you'd recommend?

An almost failed shower...

Recently our friend Heather was about to pop out her second child (that's how it happens, right? The baby just pops out?) ... so a couple other friends and I decided to throw a surprise shower for her.

While we were in the planning stages, Heather posted on facebook one day "I'm so happy! My hubby's work just threw a surprise shower for me!"

Then... while were still planning, a few days later Heather's facebook update said, "Oh my goodness! The ladies at church just threw a surprise shower for me! I feel so blessed!"

Ugh.


Finally we had a date set and I was supposed to pick up Heather for a "playdate" at the park, but really I'd take her to the shower.
But she notified me that she needed to be somewhere else that day so we'd need to reschedule our playdate.

Ugh.

We changed the date, notified the guests, scrambled like mad and came up with a new date.

Each of the hosts was contributing.
I was to bring the preggo and a chocolate sheet cake.


Morning of the shower: I show up at her house to pick her up for our "playdate" and she still in her pj's. Her toddler was running around in his undies.
Can't really say I blame her.
At 39 weeks pregnant I laid around in my pj's too.
But she didn't feel the panic going through my body as I tried to rush her to get dressed because I knew there was a shower starting without her!


Finally got her rounded up and over to the shower.

Each of the guests brought fat quarters because Heather's a mommy who loves to sew.


We were laughing, chatting, grazing on goodies, and one of the other hosts leaned over to me and whispered, "Did you bring the chocolate sheet cake?"

Ugh.

I'd forgotten the cake. I had a million and four things going on last week and I just forgot to even make it.
I brought the pregnant lady though! That counts for something, right?
What is a shower without cake?!


I'm a firm believer that every baby deserves to be celebrated, no matter if it's the first baby born into a family.
So our shower wasn't really about bringing tons of gifts, but about celebrating a new life given by God.


In the end, it worked out.
But now I need to make that chocolate sheet cake.
I might even share a little of it.

******
Do you have a favorite shower food?

Out here...

It's unusual to see another car on the road.
We do, however, see a lot of tractors and combines.
And occasionally someone on a horse.


In the rare event that you pass another driver headed toward you, you do the two finger wave.
You know, the one where you raise two fingers off the top of the steering wheel.
Everyone out here does it.
It's just the right thing to do.




Out here I see a lot of Mennonite ladies in their pastel dresses, tennis shoes, bonnets, riding hustler lawn mowers.
Or just out for an evening stroll with their dog, down the dirt road. (we live in a very Mennonite area.)




Out here, not everyone knows street names. But they'll instantly know your location by a description like "The old Smith place".

Out here it's fire season.
Lots of fields are being burned.
On a daily basis, there is smoke and ash in the air lately.


And on the rare occasion (like yesterday) that a fire gets out of hand and the fire trucks are called, "neighbors" come from miles around to see what the commotion is about.


What's all the burning for?
I actually don't know. I'm not really from around here.
I'm kind of an imposter.

(p.s. The winner of the recent giveaway, chosen by random number generator, is Jody!! My sweet friend! Email therustedchaininfo AT yahoo please.)

(p.p.s. Because I was so excited to see that my friend won, and also because I'm a genius, I forgot that there are supposed to be three winners total! So, the other two winners are Stephanie and Jessica. Email us please! Congrats ladies!)

Relaxing and goodies...

Good gracious, am I glad it's the weekend!
This week was crazy busy and wore me out.
I can finally breathe again... until the next big wave hits.

We have a few new items in the shop.

All Wrapped Up bracelet (with your favorite Bible verse!)

Savannah Earrings (these are so fresh and summery!)

Hidden Meaning necklace (This would be so great for a graduate.)

The weather is gorgeous.
We're doing yard work, riding the four wheeler, sipping iced tea, and having tuna sandwiches and chips off paper plates.
(No cooking for mama, and no dishes either. Winning!)

*****
Question: What's your favorite sandwich?

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join:

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints. Be sure to link back here so others can find the entire list of participants.
2. After you've posted your blog, sign the Linky below. Have fun exploring the other links as well! Please sign in only if you're participating. Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week.
-------------------


O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.
— Psalm 143:1 (NIV)

He is always there. Whether we cry out in joy, fear, frustration, or confusion, He is always there. Listening. Faithful and pure. Ready to bring comfort.